Hong Kong police have arrested almost 200 people on Wednesday following a massive rally, in which tens of thousands gathered on Tuesday to fight for freedom from China's grasp.

Mainland China sparked the anger of Hong Kong citizens after it warned that it still has ultimate authority over the former British colony. Britain ended its rule in 1997 and China agreed to a Basic Law that gave Hong Kong 50 years of autonomy, the Associated Press detailed.

Like Us on Facebook

Police said they arrested 196 people for unlawful assembly and hindering their duties. Tuesday's rally was joined by a 154,000 to 172,000 people, according to Hong Kong University researchers.

The people were arrested after the protest when two student groups attempted to "occupy" a street until 8:00 am. Early Wednesday, police began removing the protesters in the financial district. Other groups held a similar sit-in at government offices while waiting for Chief Executive Leung Cheun-ying to arrive at work.

On Tuesday, thousands carried out a peaceful rally amid the heat and occasional rain, carrying banners and posters that called for democracy, with some urging Leung to step down from his position. Thousands of policemen monitored the protest and managed the foot traffic along the boulevard.

July 1 is a public holiday that marks London's turnover of Hong Kong to Beijing and it has also become a day of protest every year. This year, however, the rallyists were protesting China's release of a policy document or a "white paper" that said the high degree of autonomy that Hong Kong is enjoying is not inherent but is still authorized by the mainland.

Jeff Kwok, a 28-year-old export firm worker, said people should be worried about the content of the white paper since the central government is trying to send a message that it has "absolute power to rule" over Hong Kong. Beijing has no respect for the "one country, two systems" principle of the Basic Law, Kwok added.

Kennie Chan, another demonstrator, said Beijing now "cannot stand Hong Kong people" because they are no longer obedient to the central government.

The massive protest was staged days after almost 800,000 residents voted in an informal referendum to push for democracy. Beijing, however, said the referendum was just a political farce.

China's Communist leaders have vowed to let Hong Kong select its own leader by 2017. However, they still have not allowed the public to submit their own candidates.

Meanwhile, Leung promised to do his "utmost to forge a consensus" to give way for a universal suffrage. But later on, the government released a statement saying public nominations will most likely not take place because it is still very controversial.